Delegates were welcomed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo, who highlighted, among other developments, the establishment of the Centre for Postgraduate Studies on the Bellville and Cape Town Campuses.Prof Liz van Aswegen of the Research Directorate also stressed that CPUT’s research output has increased over the last three years in terms of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s publication subsidy allocations. External funding has also increased, with funding exceeding R1 million sourced by six researchers.Guest speaker Dr Edith Madela-Mntla from the Medical Research Council congratulated CPUT for creating an environment conducive to research, but also warned that universities were facing the danger of becoming diploma factories, with fewer students progressing to post-graduate studies. Dr Thandi Mgwebi, from the National Research Foundation (NRF) outlined some of the financial deterrents facing budding academics from advancing in their research, but also indicated how the NRF helps institutions of higher learning with research and funding.Outstanding CPUT researchers were honoured at the event, with a platinum award given to Prof Daniel Makinde for research publication, and Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva for postgraduate supervision. Both professors hail from the Engineering Faculty.Prof Stephanie Burton from the Biocatalysis and Technical Biology Research Group was also honoured with a platinum award, while Prof Robert van Zyl, also from the Engineering Faculty, scooped a diamond award for the generation of external funding in excess of R1 million. Researchers in various other categories (publications, successful postgraduate supervision and sourcing of external funding) were presented with gold, silver and bronze awards. Postgraduate students, supervisors, and researchers also received awards for the best research posters.
Other highlights of the day included a presentation by Prof Kamilla Swart from the Faculty of Business who investigated the Fifa 2010 World CupTM initiatives in the Eden District Municipality, their impacts and whether planning initiatives were integrated or not. The findings of Prof Swart’s research will be valuable for the future planning and hosting of sport mega-events in South Africa. Prof Rainer Haldenwang from the Engineering Faculty delivered a presentation titled ‘Everything Flows’, while Prof Jeanine Marnewick of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences spoke about the potent health benefits of South Africa’s wonder-plant Rooibos.Dr Nhlapho summed up the sterling advances made by CPUT in the research sphere by saying that CPUT’s scholarship is recognised as one that has touched the academic lives of many young scholars. This through research and study support from the university research fund and innovation fund. “Our strategies and policies are aimed at encouraging research productivity by rewarding quality research output.”By Andiswa Dantile

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The Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town campus recently hosted the Learner-Meet Scientist @Work Programme. The programme provides role models for prospective CPUT students. Learners get the experience of visiting science laboratories and an opportunity to talk to postgraduate ‘scientists’ personally.

The programme started two years ago and is facilitated by Dr Shaheed Hartley, acting Dean of Contract Research in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. The programme aims to provide prospective students with insight in the science field at large.

“It’s important for our learners to get exposure to venues of study and career possibilities,” said Dr Hartley. He said the programme helps learners to make informed decisions about their future. The programme benefits learners, especially those in grade twelve. It also helps in marketing the courses the CPUT has on offer.

The Learner-Meet Scientist@Work Project began after an awareness campaign was held to promote Science and Technology in 1996. This was in response to a call to build a human resource for science and technology base of South Africa.

“CPUT thus embarked on this project to expose learners to some of the areas of study and research in science and technology. The project aims to promote Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) as a study field to meet the demand for scientific human capital in the country,” reports Dr Hartley.

The programme aims to inform learners from previously disadvantaged schools that Science, Engineering and Technology careers are achievable, socially relevant, rewarding and fun. It also aims to improve the image of science and technology as a career. It aims to provide information about SET and careers, expose learners to hands-on experience offered in these fields. It finally aims to impact on the learners’ attitudes and aspirations, to help them make informed decisions about their future.

Learners who attended the session were grade eleven and twelve learners from Cathkin, Harry Gwala, Florida and Spine Road high schools. Learners with Physical Science, Biology and Mathematics learning areas were chosen to participate in the programme.

*by Liziwe Ndalana

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Science Centre practitioners from around the country were hosted by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for a two-day Science and Technology workshop conducted by Dr Shaheed Hartley, Director of Contract Research in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Interim Dean of Research.

The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) asked Dr Hartley to develop this workshop for science centre practitioners to build capacity in science centres. This need becomes more pertinent in light of the fact that the Department of Science and Technology are planning to build more science centres around the country.

The workshop acted as a forum for science centre practitioners to share information and ideas about dealing with members of schools and the public who visit their respective science centres, as well as how to build science clubs.

Dr Hartley says, “We don’t have the numbers of people to do science shows at science centres and through this programme we hope to build critical mass of science centre practitioners.” The training is meant to help science centre practitioners with their presentation skills in physics, chemistry, technology and mathematics.

He says, “We need to get youth enthusiastic and interested in science and we can achieve this through the way we present the topics to them. We need to know our audience and be skilled in how to adapt our message and style of presentation to the people to whom we are presenting. This workshop helped participants adopt these skills.”

As part of the workshop, Dr Hartley explained how to go about organising science shows, what engages the audience, how to ensure the attention of the audience is captured, and how to organise the logistics.

In addition, the skills will enable participants to take the skills and apply it in their own environments. Dr Hartley says, “First we demonstrated different shows and thereafter the participants presented their own hands-on activities to the rest of the group. Participants moved between the lab, where they conducted their experiments, and the classroom where they demonstrated their experiments to the rest of the group.”

There are plans to continue teaching science centre professionals. Dr Hartley said, “This is the start of a series of workshops. I’ve also been asked to do mentorship in the Eastern Cape, and to assist in training in this regard.”

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The Institute of Material Science and Technology (IMST) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and African Explosives Limited (AEL) recently signed their third threeyear research contract, which will, with associated academic activities, bring in more than R5million for the University as third-stream income.

Prof Paul Slatter, head of the Flow Process Research Centre said, “the main thrust of this project revolves around the science, engineering and technology of explosive emulsions. Besides the postgraduate students who qualified on the project, the first six years have shown that this emulsion system is scientifically and technologically unique”.

This is said to have enabled the project leader, Prof Irina Masalova, to present a number of papers internationally, as well as being invited to present lectures at top universities in Europe.

Prof Slatter said Prof Masalova’s work has led AEL to institute a number of production and delivery modifications to their emulsion explosives manufacturing processes, which has added considerably to their national and international competitive edge and profitability.

“In time, this will mean a safer and more accurate blasting practice for the South African mining industry – impacting positively on one of our major foreign exchange earning industries. Looking at the bigger picture, this industrial contract will form the nucleus of a major academic programme, which will draw in a multi-disciplinary team within the IMST, as well as establish long-term collaborations in Europe and North America,” said Prof Slatter.

He said the projected life-span of this much bigger and far reaching emulsion development programme is in the region of ten to twenty years, contributing significantly to the collective vision as a new university of technology.

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The Chemistry Department is putting plans in place to roll out a postgraduate programme that will equip students with skills in Nuclear Science.

This area of science covers a broad range of activities, from designing and monitoring nuclear power plants to developing techniques to analyse samples that are of industrial, mining or geological interest. It also includes the isolation of radioisotopes produced by proton-induced nuclear reaction.

Although there are only a few institutions involved in this area of research in South Africa, there is a dire shortage of local Nuclear Scientists, said Prof Nico van der Walt.

As an acclaimed scientist who has done groundbreaking work in Nuclear Science, Prof van der Walt said the department is planning to roll out a Masters Programme in Nuclear Science in order to address the current skill shortages.

“We are hoping to introduce this programme by 2012,” he said.

In addition, the department is also planning to introduce Radiochemistry as a subject into the BTech Chemistry Programme.

Prof van der Walt, who will play a vital role in the roll out and teaching of the Masters Programme, said to ensure students are properly trained, the institution will have to look at developing a laboratory where they can work with radioactive material.

“If we get such a laboratory, then we would be the only higher education institution in the Western Cape with such a facility,” he said.

Meanwhile the department is continuing research activities in various areas of Nuclear Science, which includes Prof van der Walt’s niche area of ion exchange chromatography and radiochemistry.

The research looks at radiochemical separations of radioisotopes, and the labelling of organic compounds with a specific radioisotope to obtain a product which can be used as radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine or for cancer therapy at oncology departments of hospitals. Radioisotopes are, thus, vital elements of Nuclear Science.

The research also includes the study of various column ion exchange methods which can be applied for quality control of the intermediate or final products.

“All the research in this area is beneficial for humans or for industry,” he said.

Ion exchange chromatography is also used for the removal of toxic elements in the mining industry, water purification and for the determination of specific elements in geological samples.

Prof van der Walt said CPUT is collaborating on research projects with several institutions in Europe, which includes Hungary, Romania, Poland and Switzerland. The institution also has formal agreements with the University of the Western Cape and iThemba Labs.

By Candes Keating

Photograph: (top, right) Prof Nico van der Walt (top left and bottom) Chemistry students are to be given the opportunity to conduct research into various areas of nuclear science.

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As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

Represented at the signing ceremony on 28 September 2010 were staff from the executive management and the Faculty.

The MoU was signed with a Chinese partner; a Tsinghua University owned spin-off called Tsinghua Solar, which is a global leader in solar water heating (SWH) solutions. The Joint MoU also includes Shanduka and Trihelix, the latter being a Beijing-based business development company.

According to the Dean of Engineering Dr Nawaz Mahomed, the Faculty has embarked on an initiative to establish a centre for energy efficient buildings to be situated within the Mechanical Engineering precinct.

“This initiative received a major boost through the signing of the MoU,” said Mahomed. The Joint MoU was developed over the past nine months, culminating in the recent visit to China by SA President Jacob Zuma.

The proposed partnership on solar water heating technology is part of the broader cooperation intent between the two countries in sustainable energy solutions, due to similarities in the energy challenges faced by China and Africa.

Mahomed added: “CPUT’s role in the consortium will be to provide research and technology support to the deployment and localisation of the solar water heating systems in SA. This includes the development and establishment of a new standards paradigm for the continent, based on Chinese models.”

According to him, this will require an intensive technology transfer partnership with Tsinghua Solar and Tsinghua University.

On the day, Mahomed also made a presentation, which highlighted the impact of the SWH initiative on socio-economic development in the country, and the areas of intervention that CPUT will provide in the development of a fully-fledged local solar water heating industry.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga welcomed the guests, saying: “What has happened today is the first major manifestation of one of CPUT’s objectives, which include spearheading the development of research”.

The test and demonstrator facilities will be housed within the centre for energy efficient buildings, and the centre will enjoy the benefit of Chinese experts coming to SA as well as equipment acquired via the consortium. A further essential role is the provision of training and skills development at all levels in this sector.

Support will be harnessed from major stakeholders, including the Central Energy Fund, SA Bureau of Standards, Eskom and local Government, among others.

By Andiswa Dantile

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Design-junkies, budding film-makers, fashion-fundis and multi-media mavens will be joining forces this Tuesday 23rd November at the Cape Town campus of CPUT. In an evening filled with spectacular designs and concepts, the Faculty of Informatics and Design hosts one of the highlights of its calendar - the annual FID Year End Exhibition, themed "Come See my Work".

Students from the 15 design courses will be showcasing work completed in 2010, as well as work that won prestigious prizes or was highly commended in external competitions. Some of these award-winning students include the Fashion Design Department’s Rene Burger, Le Roux Hofmeyer from Interior Design and Geoff Brown from the Industrial Design Department. More than just a showcase of student work, the event also provides for interaction between upcoming designers, industry members and the general public. Some students will choose to sell their work, but if sold, the item will remain on exhibit until the show closes on Saturday 27th November.

The opening night begins with industry speakers addressing the students about career opportunities. This will be followed by an address by FID Dean Johannes Cronje and a video presentation showcasing the top achievers across the Faculty. The exhibition is then open for viewing, with a fashion show scheduled for the evening’s finale. Kicking-off at 6pm on Tuesday the 23rd, this not-to-be-missed exhibition takes place over all 3 floors of the Design Building, part of the Student Center and the Multi-Purpose Hall.

By Jan Weintrob

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“Women are the glue that holds families, community and a nation together.” Those were the sentiments of one of the speakers at the Provincial Parliament launch event for 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The annual campaign takes place from 25 November to 10 December and is marked globally to raise awareness about the violence perpetrated on women and children in our society. NGOs and leaders from community development organisations across the Peninsula were invited and participated.

Organised to the last detail by CPUT’s Events Management Short Course students from the Centre for Graduate Management, last week’s launch formed part of the students’ integrated summative assessment and their contribution to community engagement.

According to Beryl Liebetrau, an Events Management lecturer, the students’ involvement ran to not just staging the event, but included administration, invitations, the programme, selection of participants and speakers, finance, décor, refreshments, registration and protocol - every area of event organisation and management. “The students also needed to look at other facets of activism. Safety, risk, legislative compliance and broad-based community involvement were some of the added elements the student’s had to consider to meet the client’s objectives,” says Liebetrau.

The students were assessed on, amongst other things, their professionalism, ability to communicate, their attitude, appearance and training of volunteers, the registration process, directional signage at the event, safety, catering, the programme and choice of speakers.

Laetitia Meter, one of the students, says, “Even though we had some hiccups at the beginning, we managed to handle them. Today’s experience has taught me more about Events Management and because we organised the event for Parliament, it also taught us how to do things according to the legislation and ground rules.”

President Jacob Zuma launches this year’s 16 days of Activism campaignnationwide, delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony in Khayelitsha. Concerns this year include the rise of figures involving the dumping of babies – in the Cape Metro area alone, over 500 babies are abandoned a year. On a provincial level, Premier Helen Zille, and MEC of Social Development Patricia De Lille are focusing on holding maintenance defaulters responsible and ensuring that beneficiaries receive the money due to them.

The campaign calls for supporters to wear a white ribbon during the 16-day period as a symbol of peace – and a symbol of the commitment of the wearer to never commit or condone violence against women and children.

By Andiswa Dantile

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CPUT BTech Surface Design student was recognised as one of South Africa’s promising up-and-coming designers when she was awarded the first runner up prize for her throw design at the second annual House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths Competition.

House and Leisure magazine and Woolworths joined forces to sponsor this competition, which highlights ecofriendly design techniques across a variety of products.

For a seven-month period, House and Leisure featured the creations of students from various tertiary design institutions and the final products were displayed at their stand at the Design Indaba Expo that was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 26 to 28 February 2010.

On 25 February 2010, the winners were announced from a group of 10 finalists and Nandi’s was the only design selected from the throw category.

Students from seven different design schools were given the task of taking green prototypes from conceptualisation to creation and also to source appropriate manufacturers to help them create their products.

Nandi, who hails from the Eastern Cape town of Cofimvaba heard about the competition last year from her lecturer, Elna Lubbe, who used the competition as a third year class assignment.

The CPUT students were mentored by Melissa Kerkhoff, owner of Lula Fabrics.

Seeing this rare opportunity, Nandi said she decided to apply her mind and focus on her love of textiles in this project, which took several months to complete.

When asked what inspired her original handmade design, she said: “I took my cultural roots into consideration and researched the design techniques of the Xhosa people”.

Using the smocking sewing technique, she interpreted geometric diamond shape, typically found in Xhosa clothing and jewellery to create her throw made from an undyed cotton blend fabric.

The colours of the threads used in the throw also have a symbolic meaning of growth (green), wealth (red) and maturity (yellow) in the Xhosa tradition.

Nandi shared that she is passionate about recycling and using natural products.

“I am very conscious of the effect that manufacturing has on the environment, so I want to focus on creating functional designs that are reusable,” said Nandi.

Along with the other top three winners, Nandi walked away with an Apple MacBook computer, a R1000 Woolworths gift voucher and will have her throw manufactured and sold at selected Woolworths stores throughout the country.

Currently, Nandi is participating in a three-month internship programme at Woolworths Homeware Department, where she is mentored on several design projects by Paul Duncan (head of homeware) and Lynne Harris.

She completes the programme in April and is also working on manufacturing her product through a community-based organisation, Learn to Earn in Khayelitsha, which teaches skills that unemployed people can use to create a small business.

Her BTech thesis research topic will focus on designing homeware products inspired by Cubism from recycled wood.

By Thando J. Moiloa

Photograph (left) An elated achiever, Nolwazi Nandi, BTech Surface Design student at CPUT (right) The prize-winning throw design, inspired by the indigenous Xhosa design style

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The Mechanical Engineering Department at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) recently signed a revolutionary five-year contract with the French aerospace company, Airbus.

This partnership agreement signed between Airbus, the country’s National Aerospace Centre of Excellence (NACoE), CPUT and the University of Stellenbosch, highlights the country’s need for aerospace research and technology development.

The partnership is endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry and will focus mainly on human resources development, including skills training and academic research. The partnership will also seek to support the government’s strategy to transform the country’s aerospace industry into a global competitor of niche services and technologies. Dr Oscar Philander, lecturer and smart materials researcher in the Mechanical Engineering is very enthusiastic and excited about the agreement. Airbus visited all the tertiary institutions last year.

Dr Philander presented them with a demonstration of the smart materials research they were doing at the time and was awarded the opportunity to be part of this very unconventional project.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is in the process of doing research in the field of aero-morphing. This includes the use of smart materials to create more lightweight aircrafts and save natural resources and the environment in the process.

“The research we are busy with is anything but conventional. This is the future of aerospace travel and we are very proud to be part of it,” he said.

Dr Philander explained their research is concentrating on a tool that will enable the wings of an aircraft to move in accordance with the pressure from other air forces whilst at flight. He also reiterated the difference between the respective research projects the CPUT and the University of Stellenbosch are involved in.

“The research done at the University of Stellenbosch involves a more advanced version of the autonomous flight systems currently mounted in aircrafts,” he said.

Autonomous flight systems are what enable pilots to walk around within the aircraft while in flight.

“The research done at the two institutions are of utmost importance to the realisation of the aerospace goals set, but the two institutions work independently as the research they are doing is so different,” he said.

Airbus and NACoE also pledged to assist 30 post-graduate students to work on aerospace related topics.

According to Dr Philander two Masters students and one Doctoral student from each institution will be part of this initiative over the next five years.

“We are very excited to have our students taking part in such an excellent project. It will expose them to a world beyond what they have been used to so far,” he said.

By Revona Kees

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Jarryd Newman and Anton Pope, two talented Graphic Design students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (VPUT) will be flown to Pretoria in August by the South African Bank Note Society (SABNS) to present their bank note designs to the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr Tito Mboweni.

This presentation will be the culmination of a national competition initiated by the South African Bank Note Society. Five finalists, three of whom will fly to Pretoria, were announced at the public viewing of the designs, coinciding with a collector’s fair that took place in the Old Mutual hall at Kirstenbosch Gardens during March.

In a briefing session in early 2007 conducted by Dr Heinz Wirz, President of the South African Bank Note Society, students were asked to design a series of five bank notes that would symbolically act as a passport for South Africa. Students were also required to design two banknotes that would be functional across the thirteen SADC countries as well as a commemorative 2010 South African bank note.

The challenge for the students was to create designs that were well researched, incorporating all the technical and security elements, while being aesthetically appealing, classic, functional and politically correct. The banknote designs, according to the objectives of the competition, should be of a calibre that would afford them the opportunity to be used as a reference when official notes are designed, if required.

Mr Lionel Franciscus, a final year Graphic Design lecturer said, “There was a good standard of work although some were better than others. It’s amazing how intricate the process is of designing money, with all the security features and technical specifications.”

Jarryd described the theme of his designs as the symbolic meaning behind the elements of the coat of arms. He said, “The meaning of each element has been translated into a South African landscape, its features and landmarks.”

Anton chose as his motifs, the main freedom fighters and Nobel Peace prize winners of our country including Nelson Mandela, FW De Klerk, Desmond Tutu, Joe Slovo, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Albert Luthuli.

The competition according to Dr Wirz aims to pre-empt research required to take action in designing new bank notes for South Africa. He also says, “Through this competition, the South African Bank Note Society hopes to raise awareness among Graphic Design students about the many facets involved in creating banknotes, as well as teaching the students about becoming good ambassadors for their designs.

*The South African Bank Note Society is involved in teaching and promotion of the hobby of collecting bank notes and the fostering of the study thereof.

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London based Commonwealth Association of Science,Technology and Mathematics Educators (CASTME) asked the Critical Thinking group (CTG) based in the Education Department of Bellville to co-host a conference recently.

Driven by the theme: “Developing critical and creative thinking in Science, Mathematics and Technology learners”, the conference was planned to accommodate 120 delegates and presenters to assemble on the Bellville campus.

Proceedings were opened by the inspirational words from the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Professor Anthony Staak. Delegates had come from many African countries, from the CASTME head-office in London as well as from a range of South African tertiary institutions.

There were also teachers from local schools and learners from Saldanha High School. These learners joined exhibitors and sponsors in the display foyer and set up the scientific models they had made as part of a science expo.

The key-note speakers for the first day included Dr Fred Lubben from the University of York who outlined the work done by the CTG group, Dr Ben Akpan, the secretary of CASTME (Africa) expanding on the importance of challenging learners to think critically about the social dimension of environmental education and Mr Tommy Botha, Senior Curriculum Planner of the Western Cape Department of Education, who analysed the teaching of argumentation as a vehicle to develop critical thinking as part of the curriculum in schools.

The second day was opened by Prof Maureen Robinson, Dean of the Faculty of Education, followed by an interactive adventure into the teaching principles of science using innovative illustrations as resources presented by Prof Kevin Rochford from the University of Cape Town. Dr Jeremy Klaasen from the University of the Western Cape then shared ideas on integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in scientific innovations.

During the four parallel discussion sessions, a host of topics relating to critical and creative thinking were presented. Short papers were delivered and time was allowed for critical analyses. Proceedings were closed by Mr Faiz Marlie, Head of Department: Education.

Ms Lynne Symonds, chairperson of CASTME sent an email in praise of the event. She said, “The outstanding feature of this gathering of science teachers was its relevance and application to the world of learning and teaching together with the friendship and mutual support of colleagues who came from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. More importantly was the reality of the value of follow-up of both the reciprocal learning and the planned strengthening through working together of associations of professionals in the field of sciences, mathematics and technology education.”

Ms Mary Gyang, from Cameroon said, “Using argumentation in teaching Science, Mathematics and Technology is a way of developing future citizens who respect other people’s ideas, and needs to be encouraged in the entire school curriculum.”

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What Kind of Child was published last year by Kwela Books. The author is Mr Ken Barris, acting language co-ordinator in the department of Engineering at the Cape Town Campus.

The book was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize (Best Book Africa section) and the Herman Charles Bosman Fiction Prize.

The book is set in Cape Town. It’s a postcolonial novel about two worlds that occupy the same space but don’t seem to touch each other much. It traces the lives of two people, one born on the streets, one born to a life of relative privilege, and contrasts their experiences and social conditions.

Mr Barris is currently completing a PhD, focusing on how South African writing has evolved through the dying years of apartheid into the post-apartheid era, and how in some respects this literature has retained hallmark characteristics.

Mr Barris said, “It’s an interesting topic for me, because it coincides with the period in which I’ve been active as a writer, and because I personally know some of the writers I’m researching.”

Mr Barris has also won the 2006 Thomas Pringle Award, conferred by the English Academy of Southern Africa

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THE Cape Peninsula University of Technology again showed its devotion to education at The Aggrey Klaaste Math, Science and Technology Educator of the Year Awards held in March at Gallagher Estate in Gauteng.

Ms Melanie Sadeck, a senior chemistry lecturer in the Education department was honoured with an invitation to be part of the national judging panel at this year’s awards for the second year in a row.

The awards are the highest accolade a teacher can receive in the country and its core objectives are to identify teachers who have managed to motivate, inspire and produce good results in Maths and Science. It also serves as a reward for retired teachers in recognition of their efforts to dispel the myths linked to these subjects.

Ms Sadeck is involved in the training of future educators as well as curriculum development within the faculty. At the awards she joined the general education and training (GET) judging panel comprising of grade R to 9 teachers.

“It is an honour to have been asked to be part of the judging panel. The challenges most teachers face on a daily basis are extraordinary, especially because they still manage to deliver good results despite their respective obstacles,” she said.

“Most of the winners teach in utter poverty but manage to produce quality education to the learners. This is inspirational and deserves to be recognized. The work of an educator is challenging. When a teacher makes a difference in a child’s life by being an excellent teacher, it makes it all worthwhile,” she said.

The award also serves as a platform to meet mathematicians, scientists and other teachers who share her love for the profession. “Many of the provincial winners who automatically made it to the national awards may be coming to the department to talk and inspire the education students.” She said with the shortage of quality math and science teachers and practitioners in the country at present, the award also serves to inspire learners to pursue a career in these fields.

“We need to equip students with the necessary skills that will make them more than just an average teacher so that they can make a difference where ever they may go,” she added.

According to Ms Sadeck there is room for improvement within the awards. “I’m sure there are other teachers who deserve to be nominated and to win the award. We’ll have to look at the way teachers are being nominated by the learners, their colleagues and broader community. Since we are at the national judging level, it’s very difficult to have an input in the nominations and provincial judging levels,” she said.

* by Revona Kees

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In a bid to increase the limited pool of expertise in the national energy sector, the Electrical Engineering Department is establishing the Substation Automation and Energy Management Centre.

The centre, which will be based at the Bellville campus, will be headed by Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva, who is also the leader of the National Research Foundation (NRF) niche area ‘Real-Time Distributed Systems’.

Prof Tzoneva said the move to establish the centre comes after the International Electrical Commission (IEC) put in place the new IEC 61850 standards, which govern the building, implementation and operations of Substation Automation Systems.

These systems are highly complex computer systems, which are used by operators in the energy sector to control substations.

Prof Tzoneva said a substation can be defined as a node in an electrical power network where lines and cables are connected for transmission and distribution of electric power. A substation has the capability of transforming electricity, usually from high to low voltage for distribution by a low-voltage network. Most substations have one or more transformers and may have many other functions as well, such as switching, breaking and protection capabilities

However, she said there are few South Africans who have expertise in Substation Automation Systems and the new IEC 61850 standards.

“South Africa has no knowledge of this new way of building Substation Automation Systems. We see the necessity to start working with this new standard and have thus put together the center,” said Prof Tzoneva.

The centre will act as an enabler for education, training, testing, research and development in the in the new technologies, which can help to upgrade and optimize power systems in South Africa as well as the implementation of the various standards which have been set by the IEC.

The centre has also approached Prof Alexander Apostolov, a world class specialist in Substation Automation and one of the creators of the new substation automation technology, to assist in its operations. Prof Apostolov will regularly visit the centre and also co-supervise postgraduate students.

The work of the centre is supported by Eskom, consulting and design organisations, City of Cape Town and vendors such as ABB, Siemens and SEL.

Prof Tzoneva said a group of more than 20 students who are part of the Real-Time Distributed Systems research area will be involved in the centre.

One of the projects they will look at is the revamp of 13 substations at the CPUT Bellville campus reticulation network. The existing network was established in 1986 and is currently still feeding the campus network. However, the network has reached its expected lifetime.

“This is going to be a unique project. Students will work with designers and vendors to implement a project that will benefit the CPUT community,” she said.

All the substations will also be linked to the centre, which will automatically monitor and control the network operations, and will give students access to real-time data for their research projects.

Prof Tzoneva said the students, who refer to themselves as the “Control Group” are doing excellent work in several other research areas.

Prof Tzoneva said from a research and development perspective, the centre could act as a forum for dialogue between universities, vendors, municipalities, and Eskom to work together to build knowledge transfer systems to enable broad-based development of critical expertise to meet industrial needs.

By Candes Keating

Photographs: (top right) Prof Raynitchka Tzoneva and Prof Alexander Apostolov (bottom right) The Control Group (left) Members of the Control Group work on a device

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A senior lecturer of the Food and Technology and Horticulture Department is the first woman to be elected to an executive position of the South African Association of Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST) in nearly 50 years of its existence.

Dr Jessy Van Wyk, of the Bellville campus, shared her views on her achievement: “I feel very honoured and proud. It feels good to know that many years of involvement in SAAFoST culminated in this.”

SAAFoST is a learned society for food scientists and technologists. Students, academics and qualified food scientists and technologists can belong to the organisation. Dr Van Wyk joined the organisation over 20 years ago while she was still a student.

“The aim of the organisation is to promote science and technology in the country among academia and industry and to create a forum where knowledge, technology and advances in the field can be shared,” said Van Wyk. “We are very serious about promoting the field of food science and technology among students, and that is one of the reasons why we make bursaries available for students who are studying in the field.”

The organisation has about 2000 members across its three branches in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr Van Wyk has many plans for her term of office. “For the next two years I would like to raise awareness of the benefits of membership for students. I would also like to contribute to the Association playing a more meaningful role in Food Science and Technology education, for example by facilitating knowledge and skills transfer between industry and the universities. I would also like to contribute to working towards the status of SAAFoST being elevated into the class of world-renowned organisations, such as the US-based IFT (Institute of Food Technologists).”

CAPTION
Leading the way for women: Dr Jessy Van Wyk

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Water and Sanitation are basic needs that are essential for survival, yet millions of people do not have access to them.

Recognising the need to place more emphasis on sanitation, to redress the immense shortage of sanitation experts globally and educate the general public about sanitation, the Water Research Commission invited Professor Duncan Mara of Leeds University, internationally recognised for his contribution to the water and sanitation field, to share his wealth of experience with South African colleagues.

The two-day course was hosted by The Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit (CWSS) at the Bellville Campus IT Centre in January. As one of CPUT’s niche areas, the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit has developed a national reputation as a key agency for the promotion of sustainable delivery of water and sanitation services to all communities through research, projects and training activities.

Amongst the sixty participants at the course were municipal officials, colleagues from CPUT, UCT & Stellenbosch University, provincial officials, consultants and notably, Prof Dennis Goldberg, advisor to the Minister of Water Affairs.

Entitled “Strategic Sanitation Planning and Technology choice” the course gave a comprehensive technical introduction to sanitation technologies, international experiences, and covered opportunities and impacts. In addition, linkages with diseases, health and the environment were discussed.

Not only was the course designed to introduce the subject to participants, but it also provided additional information to those who plan, manage, and operate and maintain basic Water Services.

According to the Director of Water Use and Waste Management at the Water Research Commission, Mr Jay Bhagwan, a marked imbalance is evident between the provision of sanitation and the supply of drinking water.

Mr Bhagwan said that provision of affordable and acceptable sanitation poses a greater challenge than that of water supply due to variables such as user preferences, affordability, environmental conditions, permanency, convenience and user behaviour.

However, sanitation is just as crucial as water supply. Prof Mara presented the Health indicators of 2003, which state that infant mortality rate in South Africa is 53%, under-5 mortality rate is 65% and life expectancy at birth is age 47. Two of the three top causes of under-five mortality are diarhoea and malaria – both of which are likely to be water or hygiene related.

On a global scale, although numerous initiatives have been implemented to supply safe drinking water and sanitation, targets set for sustainable development by the World Health Organisation (Who), Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) and others require speedier services to stay on track.

According to the presentation by Prof Mara, patterns that have emerged surrounding provision of safe drinking water and sanitation in the past reflect unjust service provision, which resulted in poorer countries around the globe being neglected and without adequate sanitation resources. South Africans have also been disadvantaged by this, and face great challenges in overcoming their backlog.

Subsequent to the inception of the SA Government’s Water Supply and Sanitation programme to achieve the task of ensuring access to safe water and sanitation to all South Africans, 10 million people have been given access to basic water supply services and 6 million to improved basic sanitation. *
Figures reported by DWAF

Caption
MEN ON A MISSION (From left): Mr Jay Bhagwan (Director of Water Use and Waste Management at the Water Research Commission), Professor Duncan Mara (Sanitation expert from Leeds University) and Professor Alvin Lagardien (Head of the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit).

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The Radiography Department at Tygerberg Hospital is breaking new grounds in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The department is the first in South Africa to offer a structured one-year post-graduate course in MRI. The Health Professions council of South Africa (HPCSA) has approved the course as an additional qualification. Six radiographers successfully completed the course last year.

MRI has become the imaging modality of choice in the management of patients who present with various medical histories. This is because MRI can image virtually every part of the body.

Ms Valdiela Daries, a lecturer in the department and the MRI course co-ordinator, said traditionally radiographers have received “on-the-job” training to operate the very expensive, sophisticated imaging equipment with no significant background of MRI physics, principles and techniques.

“The MRI course was developed, not only for the need for radiographers to develop professionally, but new technological advances in MRI are introduced regularly. It has become essential for radiographers to be informed of the latest international developments,” said Ms Daries.

The radiographers attend block periods for lectures. Various radiologists, engineers, technicians, application specialists and radiographers lecture during the course. Experts in the field act as examiners, moderators, presenters and demonstrators. The students are required to do 700 hours of practical training in their workplace.

“As the Council on Higher Education (CHE) requires proof of acceptance from the radiography professional body before they consider our application, we will shortly forward our application to the CHE for institutional accreditation,” said Ms Daries.

CAPTION:

First graduates of the Postgraduate certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. At the back: Mr Carlo Wagner (Symington & Partners: N1 City), Ms Monique van Niekerk (Schnetler & Partners: Panorama), Ms Patricia Heidmann (Morton & Partners: Claremont), Ms Bronwen Mackrill (Morton & Partners: Claremont), Ms Natalie Bennie (Tuft & Partners, Constantiaberg). In front: Ms Estelle Arendse (Tygerberg Academic Hospital), Ms Valdiela Daries (CPUT lecturer and course co-ordinator), Ms Naomi Fenton (HOD: Symington & Partners and course co-ordinator).

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Four design students graduated with Magister Technologiae on 21 April 2008.

They are (front) Nicole Nel – A surface design intervention for adult inmates infected and affected with HIV/AIDS, John Vermeulen – From the grave to the cradle: exploration of hemp as an eco-design material, Katarzyna Rytel – The influence of advertising design in the print media on the self-perception of South Africa and Polish women, (back) Rael Futerman – Inclusive fitness: participatory design approaches for active ageing.

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The CPUT Hotel School recently made a mark on the culinary world with the inclusion of their unique recipes in a rooibos-inspired cookbook.

The cookbook, titled A Touch of Rooibos, received a bronze award for best cookbook in the world and was also voted the best single subject cookbook in South Africa at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris, France, earlier this year.

The cookbook was published by the Rooibos Company Limited and offers over 100 original recipes from fourteen of South Africa’s leading chefs, with four CPUT chefs having contributed their original recipes.

The chefs ranged from professional restaurant chefs to culinary lecturers who were selected for their shared passion for local cuisine and local ingredients.

Rooibos Ltd., whose head offices are located in Clanwilliam in the Cedarberg region of the Western Cape Province where the rooibos plant grows abundantly, approached the Hotel School two years ago for to get the chefs involved in recipe development for the book.

The CPUT chef team, comprising culinary lecturers Mariette Hattingh, Nina Septoe, Sarah Withey, Clinton Bonhomme and Executive Sous Chef for the Hotel School Jerome Peters was then selected and tasked with the job of developing rooibos inspired recipes.

Some of the contributing chefs already had their own rooibos recipes, but most contributors took up the challenge of developing new recipes especially for the book.

“We were each given a liberal brief to develop a recipe, like a starter, main course, beverage or dessert that uses rooibos tea as an ingredient, so that gave us the freedom to be original with our creations,” said Mariette Hattingh, a pastry chef who submitted a malva pudding recipe.

The aim of the book was to promote the cooking versatility of rooibos tea and inspire new culinary creations, while placing an emphasis on the tea’s health and wellness benefits.

This compilation has a wide variety of recipes and styles that makes can be used for special occasions and preparing everyday meals.

Hattingh added: “Working on this project has been very inspirational and rewarding for me and I’ve started using rooibos more often in my cooking. There’s nothing that can’t be made with rooibos.”

Hattingh has also been featured twice in the culinary slot of the Afrikaans lifestyle programme Pasella on SABC 2 and uses the rooibos recipes in her teaching practice.

A Touch of Rooibos is available locally both in English and Afrikaans and has even been adapted for the international market, where rooibos tea is gaining popularity as one of the country’s biggest exports.

The book is also due to be exhibited later this year in a special exhibition of food and wine books from South Africa, and all other countries of the African Continent at the Cape Town Book Fair.

By Thando J. Moiloa

Photograph: The CPUT culinary team (from left) Nina Septoe, Jerome Peters and Mariette Hattingh

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